Brexit Sparks Increase in Citizenship Applications

The number of U.K. citizens applying for German citizenship in Berlin has jumped significantly since June’s Brexit vote, according to the Tagesspiegel.

A total 14,314 U.K. citizens live in Germany’s capital and the number applying for German citizenship in the borough of Neukölln reportedly jumped from 4 prior to the vote to 24 in the final six months of the year. The number of applicants applying in the second half in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg and Pankow doubled from the first half, though the paper didn’t supply any exact figures.

“Germany’s had a strong impact on my life. With the vote to leave the EU, my country is telling me that it no longer wants to support my life decisions and lifestyle,” Freie Universität employee Camilla Leathem told the paper.

Most applicants are hoping to secure dual U.K-Germany citizenship before the Brexit is complete, according to the Tagesspiegel. Only EU and Swiss citizens are allowed to have dual citizenship under current regulations.

Mitte has seen 60 citizenship applications in the second half of the year, after just seven in the first half, according to the paper. In the western borough of Charlottenburg-Wilmersdorf the number climbed to 77 in the second half from 10 in the first.

Leathem, who will take the oath of citizenship this month, said the entire process took six months.

Foreigners can apply for citizenship after eight years in Germany or six if they can demonstrate extra integration effort, such as learning German or volunteering.